How Cannabis Earned Colorado $44M in Its First Year Legal

Colorado unveiled its first recreational pot shop on January 1st, 2014. Tourists took to the streets of Denver to celebrate the progressive rules, and parents of severely ill children moved to the state to take advantage of a new freedom.

All in all, the tax returns on this political investment were significant — $44 million in total.

Some people think that’s low, especially compared to the pre-legalization estimate of $70 million in the first year.

Photo: marijuanaindustrygroup.com

But let’s be real: Colorado’s earnings from recreational marijuana aren’t limited to cold, hard ca$$$h. In fact, the state has seen a vast decrease in crime rates since the wacky tobacky was made legal for adults over the age of 21.

Don’t forget, too, the proceeds from Colorado’s medical marijuana enterprises. That additional $28 million bumps up the rocky state’s total revenue from cannabis to $76 million — nothing to sniff at.

Basically, the experiment in Colorado has seen unprecedented success. And we’d better not forget that. Unless it’s because we just medicated — that’s a fine excuse.